Dragon/Wychwood/Rye for one year?

[EBoulder]

Hello! We are moving to the Oxford area for one year and are trying to decide between Wychwood, Rye-St. Antony, and Dragon school for our DDs. Wychwood would be only for the DD who will be entering year 7, while the other two would be for both our year 7 and year 5 DDs. I'm curious if anyone can share thoughts on the three schools. Specifically, we want to find a place where the children can "find their people" for the one year we are there, and where they can be supported and challenged academically, while still having their interests (art!) encouraged. We've visited and liked all three, so this feels challenging. (We will be coming from the States, where we fear our DDs' educations haven't necessarily prepared them as well as we'd like, so it's possible they will need to catch up, especially in math.) Thank you in advance for any thoughts!

Well for ease, I'd put them all in the same school.
But….Wychwood is great at art, and catching pupils up academically. It's what they do.
Dragon is BIG. Would they get any individual support there??
Rye is nice.

Much as I am a big fan of WW, for easiness, I'd probably go with Rye for one year.
hth. Just my opinion though.

This is really helpful - thank you! I think we would live in Jericho, between the local primary school and WW, so it's possible it might be even easier to do two schools than to get to Rye. (I read somewhere that the bus service linking the schools is shutting down - will need to research.) On first glance, Dragon was so impressive, and we loved that the girls could get piano, Spanish, and swimming - all things they are currently doing - but for one year, a smaller place might be the ticket. Thank you again!

Wychwood, definitely. It's a nice handy walk from Jericho and that alone should make it your top choice. Oxford traffic is absolute death, and your life will be a lot easier if she can walk independently to school.

It's reat at catching kids up if they're coming from overseas, lovely art department.

Piano, Spanish, and swimming are all available at the Wychwood too!

Ah. Well if you’ll be in Jericho, I’d do Wychwood and phill and Jim primary.

Lots of music groups/lessons through the music service too.
WW art/textiles/photography are all strong.
All instruments are taught at WW too.
howevEr, you may not get places at Phil and Jim. You’d have to get lucky.

No help to OP - but I went to Phil and Jim in the 1960s when it was still in Leckford Road. I had no idea it was still a school 😁

Thank you, everyone! What do you think of St. Barnabas Primary, too?

Doesn't Rye go all the way through?

Do these local primary schools have places?

Lots of turmoil at Wychwood. It’s overall roll is very low. Unless you really want this type of school (which is changing it’s ethos) , I would be inclined to avoid.

I would go for Rye. It’s going to be a challenge wherever they go. I would ask all of them how they cope with temporary pupils. Our old prep used to have a few come in. You might need to consider tutors as surely the curriculum will be different in maths? The school won’t have a huge incentive to improve Dc as they won’t be pupils on their destination list. Or even staying. You probably have to accept this is the case.

TizerorFizz, can you tell me more about the turmoil at Wychwood? And, how is the ethos changing? I know they are introducing boys, but was under the impression that there would only be a few. I know there was a thread about this, but I can't find it anywhere. Thanks!

@TizerorFizz yes, I'd like to know what you think is going off at WW too. I don't get any turmoil vibes at all. But maybe I'm just not seeing it?

Rye used to take lots of Spanish girls pre brexit.

I meant temporary pupils.

WW is just starting to accept boys so some current families are not happy. But I agree that otherwise for what you are after it would be a great choice.

They will get lost at Dragon. WW is nurturing and kind and will help them adjust to the Uk system.

@EBoulder Its getting a rep for trans Dc. Or possible trans. So it’s complex. If you feel its the one for you, go for it. Concerns raised on the other thread were concerning ownership, falling rolls, and financial stability. Boys being introduced was felt as taking a safe space away from the girls. It’s still a quirky choice whatever happens.

It’s also false to think Dc get lost in a bigger school. Classes are still quite small and friendships can be formed. I think you are asking for too much if you expect individual coaching. If you are only here for a year, you have taken a risk. It’s not going to be that easy anywhere. Friendships will be transient though so you just need a school to welcome Dc and hope they thrive.

Rye is great. Really welcoming and supportive. Temporary pupils seem to be quite common so they’ll know how to support them. Piano and Spanish would be no problem, the swimming pool is outdoor, but gets lots of use when it’s warm enough. The bus service is still available. We live in walking distance so don’t use it. I think they might be changing to a different one, but definitely not stopping it. Best to ask the school for the bus map.

Wychwood was one we considered for our DDs. Very glad we chose Rye in the end, going by the other thread. I think the op asked for it to be deleted, but the gist seemed to be that since they were encouraging half the girls to believe that they can be boys if they cut their hair short, then it was already a co-ed school, so they might as well start taking money to accept actual boys. Only they’re taking them in all years, not just starting with the next yr7 intake, which rather implies that they really need the cash.

Don’t know anything about Dragon, or about the other primaries you mentioned.

And the boys might identify as girls of course. Rye seems sensible.

Hi there Both Wychwood and Rye are great-I have kids in both schools. Feel free to DM me with any questions

Hello - I would certainly give Wychwood an opportunity as their teaching is really good and the pupils are happy here. It is a small school and as such can give the extra support which I think you said you might need for your family. My daughter is very happy at this school as are her friends.

@Oxonmum3333 i’d love to know about Rye!!

Happy to help-just DM me

What did you decide to do in the end? I hadn't considered WW or Rye. If you ended up at the dragon school it would be helpful to hear more as I've seen such mixed reviews.

@AbbyMAOX , we haven't decided yet. As we are applying from abroad, it's been challenging setting up the remote assessments. That being said, our DD has been accepted at Wychwood and D'Overbroeck's (which hadn't been on our list, but is next door to the home we will be renting), and both children are interviewing at The Dragon tomorrow. What have you heard about it? From the interview process, our DD has a preference for Wychwood, I think, though I was impressed by D'Overbroeck's, as well. D'Overbroeck's seems to be more techie at first glance. Wychwood's Head was lovely and sparkly during the interview, and D'Overbroeck's Head Teacher was really kind, as well. And Rye never got back to us after our visit, which now makes sense--they likely aren't handling admissions at all, anymore. (And we aren't interested in Headington.) The Dragon School has been the hardest to schedule, and seems the most rigorous (exams need to be invigilated at the children's current school, which is almost impossible due to the nature of public schooling in the US). Hope this helps, and obviously would love to hear any thoughts on D'Overbroeck's!

D'overbroeks is lovely and we have a few
friends with happy kids there. It's the most spread out of your options.

Why the Dragon if not Headington? Headington would have been my first recommendation to you. The Dragon would be quite the experience for a year.

WW is small and nurturing but I wouldn't touch it until they sort out there safeguarding. Boys in the girls changing rooms would be a hard no from me. It's also not very academically rigorous.